Sandwich holder



June 29, 1948.

- R. ROSS! 2,444,116

SANDWICH HOLDER File d Nov 17, 1944' I h /6 27 I9 I 24 I 2/ IIIIIIIIMIIIIIIHE INVENTOR. R0 5 5| ATTORNEY RICHARD Patented June 29, 1948 "lat 14,116:

' SAN WICH HOLDER RichardRossi,'San Francis o, Calif.

Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,945

The invention, in general, relates-to means for retaining articles including food substances and more particularly relates to'a device for holding an individual sandwich orthe like firmlyybnt readilyi removable therefromfi A primary object of the present inventionis to provide animproved holder forin'dividual'sand wi-ches orthe like afiording resilient clamping means for firmly holding the Sandwichjyet "en abling ready release of the same by a consumer whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sandwich holder of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its attractive display features and the provision of means for holding a napkin as well.

A still durther object of my invention is to provide an improved sandwich holder which can readily be stamped from sheet material enabling inexpensive manufacture thereof with a minimum of labor.

Other objects of the invention, together with some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that I am not to be limited to the precise embodiment shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the several parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in the appended claim, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a development of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end or side elevational view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, but shaped to form for use.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive illustrating a sandwich in retaining position therein.

In its preferred form, the improved sandwich holder of my invention preferaby comprises a sheet of resilient material, such as pliable, relatively thin metal, having enlarged extremities which are slitted at spaced intervals to afford a plurality of gripping fingers thereon; said sheet of material being adapted to be bent to provide a base and two opposed, substantially parallel arms including said fingers, and a pair of transverse slits in one of said arms serving to .pass a napkin therethrough for retention in the holder.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, I

1 Claim. (01. 24.8 33) provide a sheet l-l which is preferably stamped from a relatively thin, resilient metal but which can be molded from any suitable material that possesses sufiicient resiliency to enable bending or forming thereof. The sheet ll 1- is so formed as to providea relatively narrow central portion 52 and enlarged extremities I3 and M, the central portion l2 constituting the base of the holder and the enlarged extremities opposed arms of the holder when the sheet II is bent to assume the shape shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. In the configuration illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the holder will stand upright on any substantially horizontal surface and is the position in which it is employed.

In accordance with my invention, the enlarged extremities l3 and M of the sheet II are formed to a fan or shell shape, and each extremity is formed with a series of spaced, radially extending slits l6 and l! therein, respectively, thereby affording on each extremity or holder arms I3 and I4 a plurality of spaced gripping fingers l8 and I9, respectively, enabling firm grasping of a sandwich 20, as shown in Figure 4, or other like substance or article, between the opposed resilient arms 93 and 14 when the sheet II has been bent to the shape in which it is utilized. Appreciable areas 2| and 22 of each of the longitudinal extremities or arms [3 and I4 are left solid to lend rigidity to such arms.

In addition to the provision of gripping fingers l8 and IS on the extremities of the sheet H, the improved sandwich holder of my invention is slitted, as at 23 and 24, in one extremity for passing a napkin 25 therethrough and thereby enable retention of the napkin in the holder for the ready use of a consumer of the sandwich.

In order to provide an attractive design motif for the improved sandwich holder, the sheet H is so die-stamped as to provide a series of simu lated, protruding circles adjacent one extremity of the sheet, as adjacent the extremity l3 thereof, thereby affording a scroll effect 26 on the arm iii of the holder. Moreover, a plurality of closely spaced, substantially parallel slits 21 are also formed in the manufacture of the holder, by diestamping or otherwise, adjacent the central portion of the longitudinal extremity I3 of the sheet ll extending from the scroll 26 to the base l2 or central portion of the sheet. In addition, a fiat, clear or solid space 28 is provided on arm M of the holder between the slits 23 and 24 for enabling the delineation or afiixing of a trade-mark or other advertising message on the holder.

It can be appreciated that the opposed arms f3 and I 4, being resilient, can be bent closer together than as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings just prior to the insertion of a sandwich therebetween so that .upon reception of the sandwich the same is more firmly gripped by the gripping fingers l8 and 19 of the arms and more firmly retained yet nevertheless readily removable from the holder whenever desired for consumption. It is to be understood that in diestamping 'the sheet H to afi'ord the scroll effect 26 and the substantially parallel slits 21, the arrangement of the stamping can be such as to strike out these parts or elements so that they stand out in relief from the balance of the sheet or holder, as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. It also is'to be understood that in molding the holder from suitable material, the same preferably is molded in final usable shape, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, and from a material which is sufliciently resilient as to afford a yielding gripping action by the fingers I8 and 19 of the opposed arms l3 and 14. If desired, the material at the center of the sheet II, or at the bottom of the holder forming the base I 2 thereof, can be thicker than the remainder of the sheet II' in order to lend body to the base and enhance its capacity to stand'uprightly on a horizontal surface and avoid tipping.

It is to be understood that the appended claim 4:. is to be accorded a range of equivalents Geni mensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

A sandwich holder comprising a sheet of resilient material shaped to provide a horizontally disposed base and a pair of upstanding opposed arms normal to said base; each of said arms having a plurality of spaced slits therein terminat ing at the outer extremities thereof and defining gripping fingers for removably retaining a sandwich between said arms, and one of saidarms having a pair of spaced, transversely arranged slits therein for passing a napkin therethrough and for retention of the napkin on the holder.

\ RICHARD ROSSI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25 D. 120,518 Tresenberg May 14, 1940 1,172,606 Jones Feb. 22, 1916 1,309,705 Suck July 15, 1919 1,768,675 Egan July 1, 1930 1,997,048 Demmy Apr. 9, 1935 

